Abraham Romero and Haji Wright named to U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program

CARSON, Calif. (Friday, Sept. 6, 2013) – Two players on the LA Galaxy Academy U-16’s were named to the 2013 Fall semester of U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. Goalkeeper Abraham Romero (Altadena, Calif.) and forward Haji Wright (Los Angeles, Calif.) were two of 28 players picked by U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Richie Williams for the program.

The fall semester, which began on Monday, Sept. 2, is the first step in the U.S. U-17’s qualifying cycle as it prepares for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

“We are excited that U.S. Soccer invited Abraham Romero and Haji Wright to take part in the Residency Program,” said LA Galaxy Academy Director Peter Vagenas. “This is a huge honor for them, and one that they’ve earned with their hard work and dedication. This speaks highly of them and also the level of talent currently here at the Galaxy Academy. We wish them, and the entire U.S. U-17 team, the best as they seek out a berth in next year’s U-17 World Cup.”

The U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program started in 1999. Since its inception, more than 300 players have been selected for the program and more than 100 players have gone on to play professionally in MLS or Europe. Current Galaxy players that participated in the program when they were younger include Landon Donovan, who was a part of that inaugural 1999 class, and Omar Gonzalez, who was selected for the program in 2005, as well as Robbie Rogers, who participated in the program in 2003. Other notables include Jozy Altidore, DeMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley and Eddie Johnson.

Playing without Romero and Wright, the Galaxy Academy U-16’s start the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season on Sept. 21 in Seattle. After facing the Sounders FC Academy, the team travels to Portland to take on the Timbers FC Academy the next day.

For more information on U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program click here while the entire Development Academy schedule for the U-16’s is available online here.

THREE GALAXY ACADEMY TEAMS KICKOFF 2013-14 SEASON: The LA Galaxy Academy have three of their seven teams kicking off their season this upcoming weekend. The Galaxy U-14’s, guided by head coach by Greg Vanney, open up their U.S. Soccer Development Academy 2013-2014 campaign on the road against the Central California Aztecs on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. This is the seventh season of the Development Academy, a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country, but the inaugural season for the U-14 division.

Also starting play this weekend are both the Galaxy Academy U-12 North and South squads, who will partake in the 2013 Southern California Developmental Soccer League Fall Schedule. The U-12 North team, coached by Alex Yi, heads to Sotomayor High School in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11:40 a.m. to take on Los Angeles Futbol Academy Black. Head coach Braeden Cloutier’s U-12 South side will host the LA Galaxy South Bay B12 Gold team at the North Torrance High School Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9:25 a.m.

JAMIESON, JONES, QUEZADA CALLED UP FOR MLS RESERVE GAME: Forward Bradford Jamieson IV and defenders Malcolm Jones and Jeffrey Quezada of the LA Galaxy Academy U-18’s were called up by LA Galaxy Reserve Team Head Coach Curt Onalfo for last Sunday’s MLS Reserve League game against San Jose. Quezada played the final 15 minutes of the 0-0 draw, after replacing six-time MLS All-Star Pablo Mastroeni, while Jamieson, who came on for Michael Stephens, played the game's final four minutes. Jones was the lone Academy product to dress but not see action in the game. Jamieson, 16, Jones, 16, and Quezada, 16, three of the youngest members on the Galaxy U-18’s, are all in their first year in the Galaxy Academy.

The trio, along with midfielder Adonis Amaya and goalkeeper Cesar Jerez, will be back in uniform on Sunday when the Galaxy host the Colorado Rapids in MLS Reserve League action at 1 p.m. on University Field #1 at StubHub Center.

NINE PLAYERS TOOK PART IN U.S. SOCCER IDENTIFICATION CAMP: Nine LA Galaxy Academy players took part in a U.S. Soccer Training Center identification camp this week. The camp, eligible for players born in 1999 and 2000, was a single-day, invitation-only session held on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at StubHub Center. Representing the club at this camp where Galaxy Academy U-16’s goalkeeper Erik Lopez and forward Jesus Nuñez, along with Galaxy Academy U-14 players Atena Ajeakwa, Christian Gomez, Ignacio Licea, Jacob Muchnick, Victor Onofre, Omar Perez and Leonardo Zulli.